Borno: Zulum Deepens UMTH Partnership, Targets Medical Equipment for 20 Borno Hospitals

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) to improve healthcare delivery, particularly in resettled communities across the state.

Governor Zulum made the pledge while inspecting drugs, medical equipment, and consumables donated to UMTH from the United States, which were transported to Maiduguri with support from the Borno State Government at the Stroke Center of Teaching Hospital.

The Governor disclosed that discussions are underway with UMTH and development partners to replicate the initiative across 20 general hospitals in the state, including the 10 newly constructed facilities, by attracting more medical equipment and healthcare interventions.

He also welcomed the decision by the Teaching Hospital to support two comprehensive health centres in Rumirgo and Baga, assuring that the state government would provide the required infrastructure and facilities before the outgoing hospital management completes its tenure, paving the way for the partnership to commence.

“Before you leave office, we shall do everything possible to ensure that the required facilities are on the ground so that the partnership will be implemented. I also commend those working with you because, without the support of the staff, such achievements cannot be made,” Zulum said.

He commended the outgoing Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, for what he described as remarkable achievements that have transformed the institution despite limited resources and thanked the Chief Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Mairo Mandara, for facilitating the connection with the United States.

“We have witnessed phenomenal growth and development in this teaching hospital since you assumed duty. I want to assure you that posterity will judge you positively for all the good works that you have done for us in Borno State and indeed in Nigeria,” he added.

Chief Medical Director of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for the N500 million intervention following the 2024 flood disaster and other invaluable support to the hospital.

He said the N75 million out of the amount was used to ship the donated equipment, which includes state-of-the-art endoscopy and ultrasound machines, ICU beds, theatre beds, incubators, monitors, dental chairs, and other critical medical supplies.

“Part of the N500 million you gave us, precisely N75 million, was used in shipping these donated items from the United States. All these items came at no cost to the hospital apart from the shipping expenses, and today they are worth hundreds of millions of naira,” Ahidjo stated.

“We have over 20 modern ICU beds, advanced diagnostic equipment, and many other medical facilities that will be distributed across our departments. We believe Borno State can also benefit from similar donations through this same partnership,” he added.

According to the CMD, the hospital’s standalone Stroke Centre, is the only dedicated stroke facility in the county, noting that the centre currently has nearly 100 patients on admission, most of them receiving specialised treatment for stroke, significantly improving healthcare delivery in the region.

The Governor was accompanied on the visit by the Secretary to the State Government, Bukar Tijjani; Acting Chief of Staff, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe; Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon. Sugun Mai Mele; Permanent Secretary, Government House, Barrister Mustapha Ali Busuguma; among others.

Borno: Zulum Deepens UMTH Partnership, Targets Medical Equipment for 20 Borno Hospitals

Gombe govt, UNICEF launch project to tackle malnutrition

The Gombe State government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF has launched the Latter-Day Saints (LDSC)-Supported Project to tackle malnutrition through sustained investment in the first 1000 days of life.

The project tagged “Preventing Malnutrition in the First 1000 Days of Life” is to be implemented across Gombe State for a year.

Inaugurating the project in Gombe on Monday, Dr Abdulrahman Shuaibu, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Department Agency said that the initiative was key to improving the health of children in the state.

Shuaibu said that the impact of malnutrition on children was severe, affecting the mental and overall development of the children, hence urged collective action to tackle the menace.

Stating that the statistics for Nigeria and Gombe State were not looking good, the Executive Secretary stressed the need to strengthen the fight against malnutrition through sustained investment and collaborations.

He advocated the need for antenatal care, safe delivery, exclusive breastfeeding, complementary and supplementary feeding as part of preventive measures that should be embraced by residents of the state.

Shuaibu highlighted efforts by the state government in collaboration with critical stakeholders to tackle the menace.

On her part, the Chief of UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique said that the one-year project was to support malnourished children to improve their nutritional status and to strengthen support for children during their first 1000 days.

Rafique decried the high number of children who were suffering malnutrition and the need for more investments in the first 1000 days of life to prevent malnutrition and ensure that children grow well to contribute to societal development.

“Today represents another important milestone in our collective commitment to ensuring that every mother and every child in Gombe State have the opportunity not only to survive but to thrive.

“The first 1,000 days of life — from conception until a child’s second birthday — represent the most critical period for brain development, physical growth, immunity and lifelong health.

“Investments made during this window yield some of the highest returns in human capital development and are fundamental to achieving sustainable development,” she said.

The Chief also lamented that the situation of hygiene and open defecation was very common, stressing that the nutritional status and availability of diverse food everyday in appropriate quality and quantity was unavailable.

“We need a very strong system to prevent malnutrition and promote healthy growth of the children and this grant is going to support that.”

Rafique said that the state needed a system strengthening approach and a good evidence based planning to tackle malnutrition amongst children in the state, stressing the importance of data-driven planning in all LGAs.

She called for a change in the community behaviour that often led children into malnutrition which she said wasn’t supposed to be.

“These children shouldn’t go into malnutrition in the first place because when they do, they lose a part of their I.Q, energy and potential to grow and be productive for the society.

“Once a child grows malnourished, everything they lose, even when they are treated at high cost, still we are at loss.

“As a nation we will be at a loss in future with more children malnourished although they are recovered,” she said.

The UNICEF Chief appealed to the media to help effect the needed behaviour change amongst communities to build a culture of prevention rather than treatment.

Rafique commended the Gombe State government for its continued investment and commitment to improving the wellbeing of children and women in the state which she said was evident in its sustained collaboration with UNICEF and other partners in the efforts to advance child rights.

Ms Philomena Irene, a Nutrition Specialist with UNICEF Nigeria’s Bauchi Field Office, highlighted the importance of the first 1000 days of a child, saying that the period was key to brain development.

Irene said investing in such a period was the most effective, high-impact strategy to break the cycle of malnutrition, poverty and inequality.

Breaking down the 1000 days, she said that the period comprised 270 days of pregnancy, 180 days of infancy, 550 days of toddler.

She called on stakeholders in the state to invest in the first 1,000 days to reduce child malnutrition and mortality while improving education, productivity and economic growth in the future.

Gombe govt, UNICEF launch project to tackle malnutrition

DSS Set To Appeal Life Sentence On Ansaru Terror Commanders

*Seeks Maximum Penalty On Behalf of Murdered Oriire Teachers

By: Michael Mike

The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to appeal Monday’s life sentence handed two top commanders of the Ansaru Terror organization by a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Justice Emeka Nwite had, shortly after Mahmud Usman, a.k.a Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, the self-styled Emir of Ansaru; and Abubakar Abba, a.k.a Mahmud al-Nigeri/Malam Mamuda, pleaded guilty to all the 32-count charges against them, sentence both men to life imprisonment.

However, a top official of the Service, said they considered the life sentence as too light a punishment for the crimes allegedly committed by the Ansaru commanders.
The official said the Service found it curious that, both convicts were on the verge of pleading guilty to the charges, but changed their minds shortly after some persons believed to be members of the same Ansaru organization kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State.
“For the nearly 60 days the kidnappers held on to the pupils and teachers of Oriire, the Ansaru commanders in our custody changed. One of the top conditions the abductors gave was the unconditional release of these same Ansaru commanders in exchange for the Oriire kidnap victims,” he said.
“From ‘not guilty plea,’ the two men at the penultimate court session, said they were undecided on what plea to take. Justice Nwite even had to hand them an ultimatum to make up their minds on or before Monday’s sitting. After the Oriire rescue, they came to court to plead guilty to all the charges,” he added.
According to the top official, allowing the two terror commanders walk away with life sentences would not serve the cause of justice for the two Oriire teachers beheaded by their abductors.
“The reason the terrorists beheaded the two Oriire teachers was to put pressure on government to release these two Ansaru commanders. It, therefore, wouldn’t be fair to see two men beheaded and their families are made to live with the losses without adequately bringing the culpits to book,” he declared.

DSS Set To Appeal Life Sentence On Ansaru Terror Commanders